Toilet bowldeodorizer



g- 22, 1967 R. G. LELAND 3,336,603

TOILET BOWL DEODORIZER Filed June 22, 1965 INVENTOR. E'4CF/Vl/4L0 G. LELAND,

United States Patent 3,336,603 TOILET BOWL DEODORIZER Ragnvald G. Leland, 2334 W. 241st St., Lomita, Calif. 90717 Filed June 22, 1965, Ser. No. 465,877 8 Claims. (Cl. 4-223) This invention relates to deodorizing devices, and more particularly to an improved deodorizer unit adapted to be mounted on and employed with a toilet bowl and having means for dispensing the deodorant material into the toilet bowl.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved deodorizer dispensing device for use on a standard toilet bowl, the device being simple in construction, being easy to mount in operating position, being conveniently accessible for operation, and being highly effective in preventing offensive odors from escaping from the toilet bowl.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved deodorizing assembly for use on a toilet bowl, said assembly involving relatively inexpensive components, being adapted to be mounted in a very inconspicuous position, being provided with simple and inexpensive means for retaining it in its operating position, and being located so that it can be easily operated by a person using the toilet bowl.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved deodorizer unit adapted to be mounted on a conventional toilet bowl and being provided with means for retaining it in operating position, the unit being compact in size, being reliable in operation, and being easy to remove when it is necessary to replace same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional toilet bowl assembly provided with an improved deodorizer unit according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of the rear portion of the toilet bowl of FIGURE 1, showing the deodorizer unit mounted thereon in operating position, the deodorizer unit being shown in end elevation.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical crosssectional view taken through the deodorizer unit substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view, partly in horizontal cross-section, of the deodorizer unit of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, 11 generally designates a conventional toilet bowl assembly, said assembly comprising the toilet bowl portion 12 and the flush cabinet 13 which is mounted in vertical position on the rearwardly-extending upper rear portion 14 of the toilet bowl 12. The toilet bowl 12 is provided with the usual toilet seat 15 having a hinged top lid 16, the seat 15 and the top lid 16 being hinged together on a common hinge bracket unit 17 secured to the forward portion of the rear extension 14, there being a space of the order of two or three inches in width between the flush cabinet 13 and the hinge bracket assembly 17. In the usual toilet bowl assembly 11 the portion 14 generally is provided with a straight edge 18 joining the main body of the toilet bowl with the rear portion thereof carrying the flush cabinet 13. While various designs of toilet bowl assemblies 11 may contain deviations from this construc tion, in general, there is an edge corresponding to the straight edge 18 shown in FIGURE 1.

Designated generally at 20 is a deodorizer unit which 3,335,693 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 comprises an elongated 21 filled with deodorizing the cylindrical container front cap 22 which tapers forwardly and which is secured, as by crimping, or the like, to the forward rim of the cylindrical portion of container 21, as shown at 23. The cap 22 is preferably formed of molded plastic, or similar relatively malleable material, for example, of soft sheet metal. The container portion 21 is generally similar to a standard aerosol container which is commercially available and which is sold as a standard product for dispensing deodorizing material. The container 21 is provided with a dispensing head 25 having a laterallyprojecting discharge spout 26, the container being further provided with a normally closed dispensing-valve assembly 27 which is opened responsive to inward axial force exerted on the dispensing head 25. Thus, when the head 25 is pushed inwardly, the valve assembly 27 opens, allowing the deodorizing vapor material from the interior of the container 21 to escape through the discharge spout 26.

In accordance with the present invention, a discharge conduit 28 is secured on the spout 26, the conduit 28 extending laterally through an aperture 29 provided in the cap 22, the conduit 28 being of suflicient length to extend beneath the rear portion of the toilet seat 15 when the container 21 is disposed transversely on the rear toilet bowl portion 14 in the space between the hinge assembly 17 and the bottom portion of the flush cabinet 13, as shown in FIGURES-1 and 2. The conduit 28 is provided with the discharge nozzle portion 31 which is arranged so that when it is mounted in the manner shown in FIGURE 2, the discharge nozzle portion 31 extends downward-1y and forwardly within the top rim 32 of the toilet bowl.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the conduit 28 extends between the .seat 15 and the toilet bowl top rim 32. The conduit 28- is protected against crushing by the usual rubber bumpers provided on the underside of seat 15 which engages on the top rim 32. The conduit 28 may be of sufiicient diameter so that it is clampingly-engaged by the seat 15, said conduit being made of relatively flexible material. A suitable weight, such as a lead ring 50, is secured to the nozzle portion 31 to cause the conduit to bend downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 2, whereby the nozzle portion 31 is directed downwardly into the toilet bowl.

The tapered cover element 22 is provided with a front aperture 34 which slidably-receives the reduced forward portion 35 of a push-button element. 36, the push-button element 36, the push-button element being provided with an inner central recess 37 which receives the forward end of the aerosol receptacle dispensing head 25. Thus, in the normal position of the head 25, the button element 36 is held with its reduced portion 35 disposed in the aperture 34. When the button element 36 is pushed inwardly, for example, by application of finger pressure thereto, it transmits force to the head 25, causing the head to be moved inwardly and thereby opening the dispensing valve assembly 27, allowing deodorant vapor to escape through discharge spout 26 and conduit 28 to the dispensing nozzle 31.

Secured to the forward end portion of the container 21 is a stop bracket 40 of right-angle shape having a depending bottom fiange 41 extending transverse to the container. The flange 41 is engageable against the side edge 18 of the rear extension 14 of the toilet bowl, serving as an abutment means to hold the container 21 against transverse movement when pressure is applied to the button element 36 in the manner above-described. The flange 41 thus cooperates with the conduit 28 in holding the unit 3 20 against movement when dispensing force is applied to the button element 36. As shown in FIGURE 1, the button element 36 is located rearwardly of the toilet seat within easy reach of a person using the toilet.

To facilitate manufacture and reduce the costs of fabrication, the stop bracket 40 with the flange 41 may be molded integrally with the rear marginal portion of the tapered cap member 22.

To facilitate the operation of the dispensing valve of the assembly 20, the cap member 22 is formed with a pivot lug portion 42 formed with a keyhole-shaped aperture 43 in which is pivotally-mounted a valve-operating lever 44, the lever 44 being received in the enlarged portion of the keyhole-shaped aperture 43 and being provided with retaining ring elements 46, 46 on opposite sides of the lug 42 to hold the lever 44 against endwise movement. The rear portion of the lever 44, shown at 48, extends adjacent the exposed surface of the reduced button portion 35, being engageable substantially centrally thereof when the lever 44 is rotated outwardly, namely, in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4, thereby causing the button element 36 to be pushed inwardly to open the dispensing valve assembly 27. As shown, the forward portion of lever 44 extends a substantial distance forwardly from the lug 42, extending laterally adjacent to the side portion of seat 15 so as to be easily accessible to a person using the toilet. By rotating the depending free end portion of lever 44 outwardly, as above-described, the valve assembly 27 of the dispenser may be actuated to cause deodorant material to be dispensed through the nozzle 31 into the toilet bowl.

If so desired, the lever 44 may be omitted, and the deodorizer may be operated simply by actuating the push button 36.

When the container 21 becomes depleted, it may be readily replaced by a new deodorant dispenser 20. Thus, the seat 15 is lifted to release the clamping pressure on the conduit 28, allowing the old unit to be removed and allowing a new dispensing unit to be substituted therefor.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the container 21 is positioned behind the hinge assembly 17 and behind the rear edge portions of the lid 16 and toilet seat 15, being substantially hidden from view, but having its operating elements sufliciently exposed so as to be readily accessible. It will be further apparent, from the above description, that the assembly is very easy to remove for replacement and requires no special fastenings for mounting it in an operating position on the toilet bowl assembly 11. Thus, the deodorant dispensing assembly 20 is readily removable when it is necessary to clean the portion of the extension 14 occupied by the deodorant assembly, and said assembly can be readily replaced thereafter.

While a specific embodiment of an improved deodorant dispensing unit for a toilet bowl has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a toilet assembly comprising a toilet bowl having a rear top extension, a flush tank mounted on said top extension, a seat hinged on the top of the bowl forwardly adjacent said top extension and spaced from said flush tank, a deodorant dispenser disposed transversely on said top extension in the space between the flush tank and the hinged end of the seat and havnig a discharge conduit extending forwardly beneath said seat over the rim of the toilet bowl, and an actuating member on the end of the deodorant dispenser located laterally adjacent said rear top extension.

2. In combination, a toilet assembly comprising a toilet bowl having a rear top extension, a flush tank mounted on said top extension, a seat hinged on the top of the bowl forwardly adjacent said top extension and spaced from said flush tank, a deodorant dispenser disposed transversely on said top extension in the space between the flush tank and the hinged end of the seat and having a discharge conduit extending forwardly beneath said seat over the rim of the toilet bowl, an actuating member on the end of the deodorant dispenser located laterally adjacent said rear top extension, and a depending stop flange secured to the dispenser adjacent said actuating member and engaging the side edge of said top extension.

3. In combination, a toilet assembly comprising a toilet bowl having a rear top extension, a flush tank mounted on said top extension, 21 seat hinged on the top of the bowl forwardly adjacent said top extension and spaced from said flush tank, a deodorant dispenser disposed transversely on said top extension in the space between the flush tank and the hinged end of the seat and having a discharge conduit extending forwardly beneath said seat over the rim of the toilet bowl, and an inwardly-movable dispensing push-button member on the end of the deodorant dispenser located laterally-adjacent said rear top extension.

4. In combination, a toilet assembly comprising a toilet bowl having a rear top extension, a flush tank mounted on said top extension, a seat hinged on the top of the bowl forwardly adjacent said top extension and spaced from said flush tank, a deodorant dispenser disposed transversely on said top extension in the space between the flush tank and the hinged end of the seat and having a discharge conduit extending forwardly beneath said seat over the rim of the toilet bowl, an inwardly-movable dispensing push-button member on the end of the deodorant dispenser located laterally-adjacent said rear top extension, and a depending stop flange secured to the dispenser adjacent said dispensing push-button member and engaging the side edge of said top extension.

5. In combination, a toliet assembly comprising a toilet bowl having a rear top extension, a flush tank mounted on said top extension, a seat hinged on the top of the bowl forwardly adjacent said top extension and spaced from said flush tank, a deodorant dispenser disposed transversely on said top extension in the space beneath the flush tank and the hinged end of the seat and having a discharge conduit extending forwardly beneath said seat over the rim of the toilet bowl, said conduit being clampingly-engaged between the toilet seat and the top rim of the toilet bowl, and a dispensing valve-operating lever operatively-connected to the end portion of the deodorant dispenser and extending laterally-adjacent said seat.

6. In combination, a toilet assembly comprising a toilet bowl having a rear top extension, a flush tank mounted on said top extension, a seat hinged on the top of the bowl forwardly-adjacent said top extension and spaced from said flush tank, a deodorant dispenser disposed transversely on said top extension in the space between the flush tank and the hinged end of the seat and having a discharge conduit extending forwardly beneath said seat over the rim of the toilet bowl, said conduit being clampingly-engaged between the toilet seat and the top rim of the toilet bowl, said dispenser being provided with an inwardly-movable valve-operating dispensing pushbutton element on an end thereof located laterally-adjacent said rear top extension, and an operating lever pivoted to said end of the dispenser adjacent said pushbutton element and having a rear portion engaging said push-button element and a forwardly-extending actuating arm portion located laterally-adjacent said seat.

7. In combination, a toilet assembly comprising a toilet bowl having a rear top extension, a flush tank mounted on said top extension, a seat hinged on the top of the bowl forwardly-adjacent said top extension and spaced from said flush tank, a deodorant dispenser disposed transversely on said top extension in the space between the flush tank and the hinged end of the seat and having a discharge conduit extending forwardly beneath said seat over the rim of the toilet bowl, said conduit being clampingly-engaged between the toilet seat and the top rim of the toilet bowl, said dispenser being provided with an inwardly-movable valve-operating dispensing pushbutton element on an end thereof located laterally-adjacent said rear top extension, an operating lever pivoted to said end of the dispenser adjacent said push-button element and having a rear arm portion engaging said pushbutton element and a forwardly-extending actuating arm portion located laterally-adjacent said seat, and a depending stop flange secured to the dispenser and engaging the side edge of said rear top extension below the operating lever.

8. The structural combination recited in claim 1, wherein the discharge conduit is of relatively flexible material,

and a weight member secured on the end portion of the discharge conduit to cause the conduit to be directed downwardly into the toilet bowl.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. J. GROSS, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A TOILET ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TOILET BOWL HAVING A REAR TOP EXTENSION, A FLUSH TANK MOUNTED ON SAID TOP EXTENSION, A SEAT HINGED ON THE TOP OF THE BOWL FORWARDLY ADJACENT SAID TOP EXTENSION AND SPACED FROM SAID FLUSH TANK, A DEODORANT DISPENSER DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY ON SAID TOP EXTENSION IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE FLUSH TANK AND THE HINGED END OF THE SEAT AND HAVING DISCHARGE CONDUIT EXTENDING FORWARDLY BENEATH SAID SEAT OVER THE RIM OF THE TOILET BOWL, AND AN ACTUATING MEMBER ON THE END OF THE DEODORANT DISPENSER LOCATED LATERALLY ADJACENT SAID REAR TOP EXTENSION. 